part of that deal, they put off those massive cuts. now they're saying march 1. that is different from the may deadline they've come up with, which is the debt ceiling. so they've passed a law to temporarily not enforce that debt ceiling until may. so two big deadlines. march 1 and may 18. >> we do a lot of kicking the can. but almost always they come to a resolution in the 11th hour, like karen said. and there is some encouraging news, 157,000 new hires in january is not what they were expecting. so there some encouraging news out there. we don't have to panic. but we do need to get our pocketbooks in check. and our government has a hard time doing that. >> just because the dow is over 14,000, that's a great sign. people forget those days, 6,500 when we were at the worst of the

crisis, so to be over 14,000 right now is a big deal. so we'll see what's next. >> right. let's get this going. federal prosecutors are going after the huge ratings agency standards and poors with connection to the mortgage meltdown. the justice department claims that s&p kept giving top ratings to investments it's own analysts warned were two risky. >> while big bankers and lenders built mortgaged backed bombs, it was s&p's faulty ratings that detonated them. >> standards and poors accuses the government of conducting a witch hunt. a ground breaking law maker from illinois has passed away. she became the first african-american woman to represent illinois on capitol hill. collins originally was elected when he husband george collins

was killed in a plane crash in 1971. she died sunday night at the age of 81. members of congress tomorrow will be debating the use of drones to take our terror targets. in many congress are expressing concerns about the obama administration's use of drones. and it's expected to be debated tomorrow. concerns are intensifying after the release of a justice department document that claims drones can be used against al qaeda targets without evidence of specific plots against the u.s. and president obama will be heading to israel next month for meetings with newly re-elected israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. he was there in 2008 when he was a presidential candidate. during this trip, the president plans to meet with arab leaders. also in the middle east, iranian president ahmadinejad

was in egypt. at a mosque in cairo, a protester threw his shoe at ahmadinejad, which is a big shine of disrespect. that person was arrested. in south korea, a terrifying car crash caught on tape. an suv struck an oncoming after flying over a hedge. it shattered the car's wind shooeld, but we are told both drivers somehow managed to survive the accident. >> wow. you can hear the screaming. oh, one more time. as if getting ready to give birth isn't anxiety producing enough, and i know, listen to this story. they were rushing to the hospital when a thief stole their van, which was being warmed up in their driveway. oh! deputies followed the van in hot pursuit, reaching speeds up to

80 miles per hour until they threw down some spike strips. >> it went from high speed to 40, then 20 miles an hour, then the vehicle couldn't go any further. they locked up. >> paramedics rushed the mom to the hospital but it turned out to be a false alarm. she says the next time there's any kind of alarm, no one is starting the car until she's inside of it. >> that's right, mom. make that call now. smart lady. this is bad timing. bad timing. >> bad timing for a dumb criminal. what are you going to do? here's a look at your hump day forecast. we have thunderstorms that are threatening dallas and new orleans. also rain in mobile, alabama. by the afternoon, the northeast starts with drizzle. but sunny later on. another rainy day in seattle. >> fog and clouds keep temperatures cool in southern california. warmer than usual in atlanta and orlando.

20s in fargo, minneapolis and detroit. and i wanted you to take a look to get an idea of what a dreary time it's been in new york with the rain and cold. take a look at willis tonight. i just wanted to let you know, we got an urgent call from bill cosby. he wants his sweater back. little bit, willis. seriously, give theo and rudy my best. >> oh, boy. he's been plotting this all night. >> thank you, willis. he's a good sport. a little hero doing something big for the victims of super storm sandy. it comes to us from union city,

new jersey. >> that is where 9-year-old petey, a student at the st. francis academy grammar school. he wanted to help those hit hard by the storm, so he sold bracelets with the proceeds going to the victims. he turned over a dlek to the red cross yesterday for $3,335. he even dipped into his own allowance to help raise all that money. good going, petey. nice guy, good work, good cause. >> what a sweetie pie. coming up, the 49ers player who admits he'll never forget sunday's super bowl loss. >> and getting rid of that baby weight after pregnancy. an expert trainer's advice that could keep expecting moms in the gym. you're watching "world news now."

skiing champion lindsey vaughn suffered a season ending injury in austria. vaughn landed on a jump hard, then took a tumble face first down the mountain. you could hear her screaming as she was sliding, and for good reason. she toughered two torn ligaments and a broken bone. she was treated for 12 minutes before she was flown to the hospital. she'll need surgery and could be looking at 6 to 8 months before she could get back on her skis. >> that looks like it was so painful. a source tells abc news that investigators are looking into criminal larges against lance armstrong. today is his last chance to come clean to investigators. armstrong is being investigated for obstruction of justice,

witness tampering and intimidation. he confessed to lying and using performance enhancing drugs throughout his career. that all happened in that famous interview with oprah. armstrong is serving a lifetime ban from competitive sports. it looks like there were concerns about the power in the superdome months before it went out. documents show that officials worried about an outage and spent hundreds of thousands on upgrades to power lines that were decade. but it wasn't enough as we saw sunday night. investigators still haven't pin pointed the exact cause of the outage. we do know it was not beyonce's hairdry hairdryer. a sad scene in san francisco. 49ers players cleaned out their lockers yesterday and marked the official end of the season for the team. the players signed autographs and packed up their gear, some for a final time. quarterback colin kaepernick told reporters the loss will stay with him for the rest of his life.

>> i mean, it's tough. we've been through a lot together, we've here with each other all the time. it's like losing your family. >> still a long career ahead of him. he blames himself for making too many mistakes in that three-point loss to baltimore. he's promised to start training with his teammates by next week. on the east coast, the ravens were still partying. tens of thousands of fans lined the streets of baltimore to cheer on their team as the city shuts down for a celebratory parade. the parade route ended, packed with even more fans, both on the field and in the bleachers. ray lewis could not ask for a better way to cap off his career. that city is on fire. >> look at the cute little baby. >> just chilling in his hat. >> kevin would be screaming his head off.

coming up next, bouncing back from those baby bumps. >> how do they do it? kim kardashian's trainer brings us some expert advice. that's coming up next.

it's been just about a month since kim kardashian announced she was pregnant. >> the question on my mind, one of my, is how the rest of her body holding up? we're happy to hold up she does have a personal trainer, making sure she's looking just as fine as ever. abc's abby boudreau has more. >> reporter: the eternal question, how does she do it? hollywood moms shedding so much baby weight, so fast. >> take our arms and go like this, drop them down.

>> reporter: trainer tracy anderson says the secret to getting your body back is keeping in shape during pregnancy. >> i used to have so many women coming to me after pregnancy, how can i get my body back? if i only had this during the pregnancy too. >> reporter: she should know. is how is it going? >> she's amazing. i was refreshed to hear her first, i'm pregnant and i want to do this right and healthy. >> reporter: tracy filmed her new dvd series while she was pregnant, offering moms to be specialized workouts for each month of their pregnancy. focusing more on the body's muscular structure than on cardio. >> she was pregnant during she was filming, so she knew her limitations. >> reporter: so you're taying it's possible to have a better body post baby than before you

were pregnant? >> 100%. i have a better body now after my second baby. >> reporter: after the baby, hitting the gym can be tough, too. i know that firsthand. so i'm hoping tracy can help me with some post baby booty tips. >> you really are tight. this is going to make you feel so much better. >> reporter: i'm sure kim will have an easier go. despite the occasional cravings, like this mcdonald's mcgriddle, though she says she only happened one bite. >> everybody should watch her right after it, because she'll be back better than ever. >> reporter: and no doubt the world will be watching. abbie boudreau, abc news, los angeles. >> unless she's going to tell me how to hold the child while lifting a dumbbell, there's no

way a regular person can do that. >> celebrities have trainers, nutritionists, they don't work for months at a time. >> spend time with your baby. you've got the rest of your life to get rid of the fat. with this flu season being the most severe in years,

it's recommended by the cdc to clean surfaces with a disinfectant. lysol disinfectant spray is approved to kill twice as many germs than any other disinfectant spray. helping protect your family with lysol... that's our mission for health.

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ahh ! finally, there's cepacol sensations. serious sore throat medicine, seriously great taste. plus the medicine lasts long after the lozenge is gone. ahh ! mmm ! cepacol sensations. ♪ an oldie but a goodie. you'll learn many things on the overnight. there were plenty of six packs at the super bowl, but maybe none so memorable as those belonging to a guy named matthew perry. >> the word fine does not begin

to describe this man. abc's cecilia vega got the best assignment on earth. take a look. >> reporter: some say it was the absolute best ad of the super bowl. he is the new face -- well, okay, the new abs of calvin klein. and those abs are everywhere. >> this is the guy. >> reporter: he does have a name. he's 21-year-old matthew perry. i'm cecilia. nice to meet you. i barely recognized you blessed. not too long ago he was stocking milk in a grocery store. let's see. oh, my god. i mean, this is not photo shopped. after terry's mom entered his photo in a modeling contest, the rest, as they say -- >> i get a phone call from my agent saying the video you shot is going to be in the super

bowl. i was speechless. >> reporter: speechless was hardly the reaction his family had when they and the rest of the country saw him shirtless on sunday. now terry's abs join the ranks of other abs of steel and give david beckham a run for his money. but it takes a lot of work to look this good. >> i like doing planks. once you get that burning feeling, that's when you need to push yourself more. >> reporter: without a doubt, he had the best six pack of the super bowl. and it had nothing at all to do with fear. cecilia vega, abc news, new york. >> just takes one person to discover you. are you all right? she's drooling. oh, my lord. >> let me see your six pack. >> mine is in my fridge in my office. that's where mine is.

i've got work to do, baby. i've got work to do.

this morning on "world news now," dangerous discoveries. the bomb squad's tough job around the alabama bunker where a dramatic hostage ordeal ended this week. >> new insight into the dead kidnapper's background as the boy he held captive celebrates his 6th birthday. it's wednesday, february 6. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning, everyone. i'm diana perez. >> and i'm rob nelson. we'll take you to alabama in just a second where investigators face another challenging day today. hard to believe what they found. we said credit could have ended a lot worse and now we know.

also this morning, governor versus governor, jerry brown from california and rick perry from texas are in the middle of a war on words. we'll tell you what started this latest political battle. later this half hour, putting hand sanitizers to the scientific test. what we discovered about which products work the best. >> important information. you see people lathering up every day. >> but do they work? we answer that question, that pressing, burning question. >> that's it, abc news gets to the bottom of it. also, your questions for our lovely miss diana perez. she's excited to answer all the questions that came in, including your question about her favorite celebrity crush. >> i think you're more excited about that crush. >> i asked you innocently. i had no idea it was going to come up in the show. i'm excited for you to share

that information. >> more information i'm sharing publicly. great. >> stay tuned for that. first, our top story. the little alabama boy rescued from that hostage ordeal, celebrates his 6th birthday today with family and friends. >> his story could have had a much different ending, as investigators are finding bombs in the dead captor's property. >> reporter: this little boy is now in his mother's arms, away from that underground bunker where he was held hostage by a man with a gun and we learned an improvised explosive device. the fbi's bold plan to rescue him, coming into sharp focus. abc news confirmed that negotiators convinced his captor to approach the bunker door to accept delivery of an item. there fbi agents set off an explosive device. law enforcement forces say dikes fired on the agents. they fired back and moments

later, he was dead and ethan was safe. the fbi and highly specialized s.w.a.t. teams spent seven days planning the raid, while hostage negotiators tried to keep dikes talking. we boarded a helicopter here in southern alabama to get our first look at the underground bunker site. you can see a number of small structures on this lot of land. but what he didn't know is just across the street, the fbi had secretly built this mock bunker to train agents for different scenarios. >> you can practice breaching the door, practice how to get a camera inside and ultimately design how you're going to assault this bunker. >> reporter: as authorities swarmed the ground above, negotiators remained in contact, speaking through a ventilation pipe. authorities were able to place a small camera in the bunker to monitor movements. when authorities saw him becoming increasingly agitated and holding a gun, they put

their plan into action. now e than is recuperating from his ordeal. >> you have to be impressed with law enforcement, building that fake bunker and practicing on that for several days, keeping the guy pacified. amazing work. >> and moving as quickly as they did to get in there before he was able to do anything to himself or little ethan. >> and now we know the place was rigged with explosives. e than's mom released a statement that i thought said it all, ethan is safe and back in my arms and i owe it to some of the most compassionate people on earth. so you can imagine what she's feeling right now. >> and the grandmother says we know he's okay physically. we don't know how he is mentally. that's the long-term question, that's for sure. >> but happy birthday. >> that's right, happy 6th birthday. police in seattle say a driver speeding away from a

shooting slammed into a school bus packed with kids. no one was hurt luckily. the suspect just kept on driving. deputies found the car and arrested the 32-year-old driver on investigation of assault, hit and run, and other charges. a woman pulling up to a south florida bar hit the gas instead of the brake, and this was the result. she plows through the wall. the driver was charged with a dui. you drink when you get to the bar, not on your way to the bar. that's the rules. now we turn to that governor's feud we mentioned a second ago. it's jerry brown of california versus rick perry of texas. it's all a nasty fight over money. abc's brandi hitt reports. >> reporter: a battle is brewing between the two governors. over the golden state's golden business. it all started with this radio ad. >> building a business is tough. but i hear building a business

in california is next to impossible. >> reporter: governor perry is soliciting companies to move to the lonestar state. >> i have a message for california businesses. come check out texas. >> reporter: and governor brown's response to that ad is now getting even more attention. [ inaudible ] >> reporter: this isn't the first time they have gone at it over business. >> i'm sick and tired of governor perry coming to california. >> reporter: but critics say this latest war of words only highlight what's a major problem in california for years. >> taxes are high, the regulations are onerous. there's a lot of things keeping them from being able to innovate and grow their business and create jobs. >> reporter: tuesday, governor brown unveiled a new fleet of ups trucks being built in california. while his lieutenant governor is still fired up over the perry ads -- >> california has cleaned texas' clock in terms of job creation.

>> reporter: governor perry has plans to head back out here to california next week to personally meet with business owners. rob and diana, back to you. >> thanks a lot, brandi. more politics now. new jersey's governor is responding to health concerns after appearing on the david letterman show, merging on that doughnut. he says new jersey residents should not worry about his weight. christie says diets have been part of his life for the last 30 years. he says despite his weight, he is remarkably healthy. one of the nation's most acclaimed skiers, lindsay vaughn, should be fine for next year's olympics, but she's done for this next season. she tore two knee ligaments and broke a bone in australia yesterday. she was treated on the course and flown to the hospital. her father says vaughn could be -- could have surgery in colorado as soon as this weekend. >> that's just painful to even watch. you can see how she lands, you

can see how things can get torn and broken. also a rumor she's now dating tiger woods. no word on whether he was there or he's with her now. not that's relevant. >> the story is the injury. >> just a hollywood tidbit. >> gives it a little flavor. here's a look at your weather on hump day. showers in oklahoma city. heavier rain from dallas to new orleans. ski resorts around aspen will pick up an inch of snow. rain or seattle and portland. >> temperatures on the east coast finally warm up to more seasonably readings. new york and boston near 40, warmer than usual in the southeast. 60s in atlanta. and now we get up close and personal with a couple of whales. first up, this one from the pacific coast of mexico. it happened late last week. >> an american tourist captured

the picture. the animal jumps only completely out of the water. keep your distance, folks. >> and in hawaii, a humpback whale came to the surface, lifting the couple's canoe in the air. nothing bad happened. they were just amazing that they were so close to such a big animal. >> that's why i tend to stay out of the water. >> you're going to need a bigger boat. >> are you a beach personal, an ocean person? >> yes, love it. i get all the way in, as deep and as far as i can. i like swimming with the sharks. >> seriously? >> yeah. i don't want to be anywhere near a whale. >> i need a pool, chlorine, get my floaties on, i'm good. >> willis just goes as far as his bathtub. >> and that's just once a

season. >> ouch. coming up later -- >> zing, the burn. >> america, look away. look away, america. coming up, punishment in court for a woman's single finger salute. >> and are your hands really clean after using hand sanitizer? stay tuned for our scientific test. you're watching "world news now." [ female announcer ] going to sleep may be easy, but when you wake up in the middle of the night it can be frustrating. it's hard to turn off and go back to sleep. intermezzo is the first and only prescription sleep aid approved for use as needed in the middle of the night when you can't get back to sleep.

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♪ ♪ i'm going to wash that man right out of my hair ♪ >> if your place is like ours right here, there are anti-bacterial wipes and sanitizers everywhere. >> but some workplaces are better than others. and some handtizers are better than others, as well. dr. richard besser puts them to the test. >> reporter: clean.

as many as 400,000 germs per hand. that's ho many bacteria travel with us every day. so here at the university of maryland, we voluntarily doused our hands in a toxic crew of thousands of e. coli bacteria. to see what would take it off, first up, hand sanitizers. we tested two kinds you find at the store. one with 60% alcohol and one so-called natural formula containing no alcohol. the key is use enough of it. your hands should take 15 seconds or longer to dry. then we pressed our hands on special incubation plates to grow any remaining bacteria. the results, dramatic. here, those graying spots of the e. coli that grew from unwashed hands. after, using hand sanitizer. but the formula without alcohol,

look how many germs are left behind. alcohol breaks up the bacteria's proteins and kills them. but what is your best bet? guess what, it's your old friend, soap. soap gets more viruses, too. surprisingly, studies shows soaps are equally effective. but most only spend five seconds at the sink. just look how many germs remain. you have to wash your hands for a pull 20 seconds to really get the bugs off. and yes, that's singing happy birthday twice. so hand sanitizers if you can't get to a sink with 60% alcohol and any kind of soap is better, as long as you wash long enough. dr. richard besser, abc news, college park, maryland.

>> soap. >> did you get that? >> use soap. >> he's a dirty man. >> that's way too much. that ice disgusting. what is the percent on this one? >> this is 70%. >> that's good. >> 70%, so use purell or use soap. >> oh, man. >> who would have guessed it? >> i didn't see that coming. >> me neither. that was the clencher of the night. >> now that you've seen the whole picture, we're going to -- >> sanitation, sanitation. >> lather up, girl. coming up next, from the wnn in box, your questions for our new permanent co-anchor diana perez. >> i'm going to do my best to answer them, coming up next.

what is your favorite way to waste time at work without getting caught? >> pick my nose. >> really? >> tell me you don't pick your nose at work. >> not at work. >> that is such bull. >> that was the beginning of the big revelation from my new co-anchor diana perez. >> why did i do that? >> i was thinking you're going to fit in well. >> i'm sleep deprived. >> your honesty does not end there. >> unfortunately. we have a special edition of "wnn in box" this morning all about me. we asked you do ask me anything and you did. you sent so many questions, all 3 million of you sent 160

questions. >> that's love. >> now i get to answer four. >> this is your first week. donna says, i love that you shared the nose picking. please tell us about your most embarrassing televised moment. >> this is not actually that embarrassing. my first job on air, we used to do something called on the road. i was holding up a t-shirt and in the back it said, i got crabs on coney island. and i'm like, guess what i got. and we got a lot of phone calls. >> so you pick your nose and you have crabs. i'm sitting next to a lady. leeann ask, with your husband working in philly and you here in new york, which one of you has to make the awful commute? >> both of us. we live in jersey. 55 miles split right down the middle. devin, my poor child, we never see him. that's my husband. look at his face.

>> sports anchor down in philly. >> love you, baby. >> randy wants to know what your husband thinks about your new work husband, rob nelson? >> he thinks you're the craziest black man he's never seen. >> we celebrate each other. and finally, who is your celebrity crush? >> this is a little racy, but so -- i'm sorry, i'm spitting now. i just feel like this is quite the specimen of a person, penelope cruz. >> that is your celebrity crush? >> she is so hot. she is perfect in every way. i haven't seen a lot of pictures of her after she had the baby. but prebaby, wow. >> what about her, is there a certain part? >> everything. every part of her.

>> and that's your celebrity crush, not a dude? you have an interesting choice for a dude. >> matthew broderick for a dude. >> never saw it coming. people with sore throats have something new to say. ahh ! mmm ! ahh ! finally, there's cepacol sensations. serious sore throat medicine, seriously great taste. plus the medicine lasts long after the lozenge is gone. ahh ! mmm ! cepacol sensations.

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♪ welcome, everybody, to "the mix." we start with something that's really interesting. i think every man's dream. you know how there are things that happen to a man that automatically tells a woman what's happening in the bedroom, when he's ready to go. ready and raring to go. now there's something called intimacy 2.0. it apparently turns transparent when a woman is aroused. the reason the person that created this created it is it's

a project exploring intimacy and technology. if you're asking what it's made of, it doesn't matter. it's transparent. >> that's interesting. come on, now. every guy always makes the dress disappear. >> you got that right! >> also this from the file of the truly stupid. there was this young girl in front of a judge in miami-dade down there in florida and got a little flippant with the judge. take a listen to this. >> that will be 10,000. >> are you serious? >> i am serious. adios. [ bleep ] >> did you say that? >> yes, sir. >> 30 days in the county jail. >> so she was stunned by the

high bond that he set. she was arrested for drug possession. as she's walking away, he flips her off and says f you and she gets 30 days. >> on her way out the first time, she said adios, like making fun of his accent. he said oh, really, come on back. $10,000. how do you like me now. >> maybe her probation officer will be lindsay lohan. and this is jewelry created by american designer jennifer croupy, it is statement jewelry that emphasize your body language and encourages gesture. it's all about making an artistic -- making artwork out of your jewelry. so this is going to enhance your body language and you're supposed to look more beautiful. >> the statement there is, it's

weird. >> third most watched super bowl in history, but apparently because of the power outage, it in history, but apparently because of the power outage, it was also the most nfc, afc, offensive lineman, defensnsive tackles, quarterbacks and cornerbacks are all living united. to ensure the academic success ofof millions of kids in our communities. all the way to graduation day. but that won't happen without you. so take the pledge at unitedwdway.org. make a difference in the life of a child. suit up like your favorite nfl players, and become a volunteer reader, tutor orentor with united way.

this morning on "world news now," explosive findings. the dangerous discoveries for the bomb squad after the dramatic end to that hostage situation in alabama. and the latest on the hostage's condition as he celebrates his 6th birthday today. it's wednesday, february 6. >> from abc news, this is "world news now." >> good morning, everybody. happy hump day. >> finally here. >> midweek, here we go. i'm rob nelson. >> and i'm diana perez. investigators are uncovering more from the dead kidnapper's property in alabama. we'll of course have the very latest. also this morning, undercover videotape that may show miami police officers

spending time with a girlfriend or sipping coffee when they should have been responding to calls. the department is in crisis mode this morning. >> you hear all those good stories how they get there just like that. then you have stories just like this where they're making out, taking their time. oh, yeah, we're on our way. >> and there's an emergency happening somewhere. >> which makes it even worse. so we'll get to that. also this morning, caught red handed. pranksters who aim those laser lights that blind pilots mid-air. the life threatening risk involved in all of this and the suspect who just got busted. and all the money on the line. britney spears bets on a new career move. if she plays her cards right, she may be singing songs of success. that's coming up in "the skinny." >> people ready to write britney off. no, no, no. the green is still rolling in. >> lots of it. >> big contract for mrs. spears. but first, our top story right now. bomb experts are searching the area where that little boy was held hostage for a week in

alabama. >> two explosive devices have been disarmed. agents found one of those bombs inside of the bunker where the hostage drama ended. here's abc's lindsay janice. >> reporter: a frightening twist in the hostage crisis that ended in a little boy's life being saved. authorities say they discovered two improvised explosive devices or ieds on the property where james lee dikes was holding 5-year-old ethan for almost a week. officials are revealing details of the raid on the underground jail. the fbi spent seven days planning the rescue, while negotiators kept dikes talking. across the street, they practiced in a makeshift bunker. when their cameras showed him holding a gun, they swooped in. abc news confirmed that me dpoesh yeah fors convinced dikes to approach the door to accept delivery of an item. there, agents set off than explosive device.

law enforcement sources say dikes fired on agents, they fired back. moments later, he was dead, and ethan safe. ethan, who has a mild form of autism and adhd, has been through a living nightmare. he's still being observed by doctors, but family say he appears to be doing well. >> he was running around the hospital room, putting sticky notes on everyone that was in there. eating a turkey sandwich and watching "sponge bob." >> reporter: in a letter, his mother said she can't thank law enforcement officials enough for saving her son's life. and thanks friends for prayers and asking for privacy and time to heal. when the time is right, his classmates say they'll throw him a big party to celebrate his birthday. he turns 6 on wednesday. >> happy birthday. and now a developing story from the south pacific where a powerful 8.0 earthquake struck overnight. it was centered near the solomon islands in the pacific's

so-called ring of fire. a small tsunami damaged dozens of homes. tsunami warnings have now been lifted. and near orlando, the trial of gunman george zimmerman will go ahead as scheduled in june. a judge refused to grant a request from the defense to delay the trial. zimmerman's attorneys claim that the prosecutors did not turn over key evidence in a timely manner. the judge didn't buy it and zimmerman is accused of killing teenager trayvon martin. a texas sheriff says the iraqi war vet charged with killing a military sniper and his friend is refusing to meet with his family or a court attended attorney. he's charged with two capital murders, and the sheriff says that he demanded a cigarette, even though smoking is not allowed in the jail. now that story we mentioned tat stop of the show. an internal affairs investigation of some miami-dade county police officers has department brass searching for answers this morning. video shows officers slacking off on the job.

one is seen hugging a woman when he should have been responding to a burglary. the same officer is also seen drinking coffee with other cops instead of going to check on an unconscious child. a former department head calls it all despicable. >> the idea of not going to a call just never crosses your mind. that's the basics of what we do. you go, you get there, you try to make it better. at a minimum. >> the officer we showed earlier is among three people who have been fired in this investigation. three other officers have been suspended without pay. this is quite an interesting story, because apparently they were tracked by gps, and that police officer said he was en route, but he was actually sipping a cup of coffee and he was not en route obviously. >> it's always the lie that compounds the crime. you were slacking off, but we always slack off sometimes at work. not all of us have public safety as our -- in your hands. >> but even in that line of

work, some people decide i need a cup of coffee. i need to see my girlfriend. if it's going to take five minutes, no problem. but then to lie about it, that's the problem. because if you're not going to be en route, let somebody else go. >> and no visit to your girlfriend should ever take five minutes. i'm just saying. come on, now. to protect and serve. just playing. now to our medical headlines. an environmental risk to pregnant woman. a study shows expected mothers who breathe polluted air are at risk of delivering babies with low birth weight. infant mortality rates are higher in smoggy areas. along with risks for childhood and adult diseases. researchers studied 3 million births before releasing today's findings. something to keep in mind the next time you get your drink on. researchers found people who mix vodka with a diet soda were more intoxicated than those who mixed booze with regular soda. they think it's because the amount of sugar reduces the amount of alcohol absorbed into

the body. sounds good. i need some of that. and now to our next story, while you're getting all boozed up out there, you'll soon be able to have a healthier hamburger. researchers in kansas developed some ground beef enriched with omega 3 fatty acids. it can reduce heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well. they say it tastes the same as regular ground beef and lit be available nationwide by year's end. >> i don't believe that. for a second. tastes like regular beef? >> give me everything you got. i don't need you, i don't need anybody. this is my show. >> here's some of my vodka. look at the mess you've made. >> i know. i'm sorry. my bad. i hate when that happens. go ahead.

a special exclusive here on "world news now." this is being dubbed the world's tiniest, tiniest car. it's the p-45, designed by a guy named jerry lee clarkson, the same guy from the tv show "top gear." >> it has some problems with potholes, but it has some advantages here, like being able to scoot through traffic, because it's so slim and the driver can also fill up the tank while being seated in or even on the vehicle. as for taking this on major highways, no promises there. you can do that pretty much at your own risk. >> he's wearing the car. and you pump gas in between your legs. and i thought a mini cooper was a bad idea. >> i agree. women always accuse guys of driving the flashy cars of trying to overcompensate. so maybe a dude is driving that, that could be an encouraging things. you need to look at the bright side of things, diana. you know what i mean?

you never know. just saying. >> i sent my message already. coming up next, hollywood tough guy robert de niro, why he's shedding a few real-life tears. a rare soft moment for raging bull. and the blinding laser lights that threaten pilots. see how a prankster got busted. you're watching "world news now." with this flu season being the most severe in years, it's important to follow cdc guidelines to help protect your family. wash your hands often. and clean your surfaces using a disinfectant to prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses. you can trust lysol because lysol disinfectant spray is approved to kill twice as many germs than any other disinfectant spray. and with lysol no-touch hand soap,

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♪ blinded by the light got willis singing this morning. pranksters are putting the safety of countless airline travelers very much at risk. >> they're shining lasers into the cockpits of planes. in san francisco, a news crew caught this crime in action. abc's senior national correspondent jim avila has the story. >> reporter: it starts as a bright narrow beam of green light at ground level. but by the time it gets to the cockpit, this laser explodes into a blinding bright flash, a genuine hazard for pilots. >> you might think it's fun but it's extremely dangerous. >> reporter: the stran news helicopter trained its camera on two men walking down the sidewalk, capturing their crime on tape.

the second time in two weeks they were lasered. this time a red light. >> the guy was standing on his front porch and kept doing it over and over. >> reporter: police arrested the prankster, now macing -- facing an $11,000 federal fine. the faa, fbi and local police are cracking down after a jump in laser attacks. >> got him. >> reporter: from 300 in 2005 to nearly 3,500 last year. in january of this year, a record pace of nearly 350 laser sightings. >> we just got lasered up here. >> reporter: this is a jetblue pilot having difficulty approaching jfk in new york. >> can you have medical personnel meet the aircraft? the first officer is having vision problems. >> reporter: in glendale, california, we flew with the flight police patrol that uses an infrared camera. arresting 16 laser pointers in the last year and a half. the chief pilot steven robertson was attacked himself, suffering

two burned corneas. >> you take the vision out of a pilot, that aircraft's ability to land is greatly compromised. >> reporter: on the lookout for a light that blinds rather than illuminates. jim avila, abc news, washington. >> i just question that these people are doing that you have so little in life that you want to sit on your porch and shine a light and put potentially harm pilots and put lives at risk. what kind of moron do you have to be to do that? >> the guy on the porch is starting to sound like he heard the helicopter outside, didn't know why he was there and got upset. and that's why he did that. he was so dumb, he didn't even -- he was at his home. just go next door. turn it off. it's the dark. no one is going to see you slip into your own house. >> he's not nearly as bright as the light itself. consider this serious stat. from 2011, a beam that's just 1/25th of an inch wide at its origin, can be two to three feet

wide by the time it gets to that plane. so it starts out like a little beam and by the time the pilot sees it, it's like that. that's why it can hurt them and put the whole plane at risk. that's scary. >> it's so serious that in 2012 it was banned by congress. congress passed an act banning people from pointing lasers at airplanes. that's how dangerous this is. it was a congressional act, people. >> i don't get it. coming up next, britney spears' career gamble. and the big money that's at stake. and athletes posing as famous musicians. wait till you see these pictures. that's next in "the skinny wait till you see these pictures. that's next in "the skinny."

♪ skinny, so skinny skinny in the house! >> thank you, willis. so we start "the skinny" with something that's kind of cool. this is quite the comeback. britney spears is set to perform her own show in vegas. >> sin city. >> this is going to be huge. "extra" is reporting she's set to headline a new show in vegas. it's between two casinos. they haven't decided which one yet. ceasar's is kind of on the ballot. a formal announcement within the next couple of weeks. so this is definitely happening. just some background information on this woman who has had quite

the comeback. she looks so incredibly hot these days. she's the top earning female artist in 2012. she ranked as the highest paid performer in music for 2012. she earned $58 million in 2011, $64 million in 2010. so in your face, critics. >> she is bankable. i'm sure it's a big contract. britney in fighting shape is a force to be reckoned with. don't let the crazy bald headed thing it will you. when she brings her a-game, britney is hot stuff. but they don't give those contracts to just anybody. they count on big stars packing that house day after day. >> and she will. >> she will, making big money. >> it's a nice place to land. >> not bad for a little girl from louisiana. you keep doing your thing, britney. pretty cool here to espn the magazine. they do their big music issue. they have well-known sports icons kind of pose in terms of famous albums. this is kind of cool. you may recognize ryan lochte

there, the famous swimmer, posing from way back when. and then we have i think this is nascar star jimmie johnson doing his best impression of bob dylan in that photo shoot. that's not bad. it's a good shot. and then this, this is soccer superstar alex morgan. she's re-creating katy perry's look. there's a little resemblance there. good to see that. so good to see that. >> we should do that. >> do you have a favorite athlete? >> no. do you have a favorite album cover? >> probably "thriller." >> bring your -- please bring your jacket tomorrow. i know you own a jacket. >> don't think i didn't back in the day have a jacket, glove, socks, shoes. >> you have it in your office. >> don't tell nobody that.

shhhh. that's my secret. it's between me and you, girl. we're going to bring it back down. this is kind of sad. robert de niro was on the katie show, and they were talking about -- he was there with bradley cooper and the producer of silver linings playbook and they were talking about the responsibility of working on a movie that's so important to the filmmaker. and robert de niro had a very interesting reaction. take a look. >> i don't like to get emotional. but i know exactly what he goes through. >> he was talking about the filmmaker of the movie who admitted he has a son who has dealt with and struggled with bipolar. there he is. so robert de niro didn't delve into it, but he says he knows what he's going through. so we can only imagine that means someone in his family obviously struggles with the same thing. he is the on screen father of bradley cooper who deals with bipolar.

>> very interesting. and you don't see that. >> the bravado totally gone away. >> we all have issues, no matter how rich and famous. that's for sure. >> and we know you have yours. >> that's for sure. >> and we know you have yours. >> that's for sure. and did you see the magic eraser clean up that crazy kitchen mess? it was like super dirty, super clean. how? wish i hadn't. [ sniffs ] what's that amazing smell? it's mr. clean with the amazing scent of gain. wow! you know, if i had a team, you'd be on it. [ gasps ] our mascot could be a cleanosarus rex. you're off the team. [ male announcer ] dirt and grime have nowhere to hide with the mr. clean clean team on your side.

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steve and terry weaver america's luckiest couple. yep, that's not one check from the lottery, that's two. here's what happened. heading to their cabin, they stopped at the citgo, bought some scratch cards. >> it said 1 mil. it dawned on me it meant $1 million. >> reporter: next day they went back into town and bought some more. it was terry's turn. >> i would give anything if i had a picture of her face right then. i said yeah, sure, terry. i won a million dollars and you're going to try to steal my thunder. >> reporter: not quite, but she bagged another $50,000. the chances of that double win, 1 in billions. franco selak survived a train wreck, a plane crash, four horrific car accidents, a bus crash and getting hit by a bus. then bought a lottery ticket and won $1 million. and now the weavers. terry has tried but failed to spend even a little.

>> i was at the mall yesterday after this, and i said there's not really anything that i want right now. >> reporter: and steve, a plumber, doesn't even want a new truck. >> no, i really like the truck i've got. it's six, seven years old. it's a good truck and i like it. >> reporter: what will they do with the money? >> it's going to be a large nest egg for our retirement. >> reporter: couldn't have happened to a nicer couple. nick watt, abc news, los angeles. >> smart answer, save up for retirement. not the ferrari and the yacht. >> nice, big -- they're definitely getting a ferrari. >> what would you do if you hit it big like that? >> get a ferrari. i would keep it all to myself. i will never, ever -- i'm never winning the lottery, because i am greedy. can you tell, that's my money. see the way you're looking at me, you want my money. >> $1. >> that's my luck. $1. >> that's my luck.